Washing machine



June 10 W2@ `G. S.'BLAKESLEE WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. a 1917 :s sheets-sheer 1 ovm/QMS Jun@ 10', 1924a G. S. BLAKESLEE WASHING MACHINE s sheets-sheet 2 Filed Dec. 8, 1917 4 n jim/em ,u vllul Il l llllllll Jun@ w, 19%, www@ G. S. BLAKESLEE WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. a, 1917 5 sheets-sheet s lvl "Ulli INI Familien'Jane?l 10,' 1924."

i ST ori enonen s. BLA'IIESLEE, or omeneo, ILLINOIS.

WASHING MACHINE.

' Application led December 8, 1917. Serial No. 206,285.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it `known that I, GEORGE S. BLAKESLEE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the countyl of Cook and State of Illinois, have "invented certainl new and useful Improvementsl in Washing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being Jhad to the accom-v 20 position over the washing and rinsing tanks during the washing and rinsing operations, although certain features of the invention may be applied to other types of machine.

A machine of the gravity type is shown and described 1,360,716, granted tome Nov. 30, 1920.

The object of my invention is to provide certain improvements in power operated washing machines,.especially with respect to the mechanism for positioning vthe baskets in a machine of the gravity type; the mechanism for throwing the washing and rinsing water violently into contact'with the articles to be washedand the devices for controlling the operation thereof; and the construction of the shell or vcasing of thel machine; also to rovide improved means for rinsing the articles to be washed. This I accomplish as hereinafter described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. vWhat I regard as new will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is aside elevation of my improved machine;

Fig. 2 is a thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail, being a parlongitudina-l vertical section tial side elevation of the' outlet end of theY in Letters Patent No.l`

' Fig. 2. The lowerportion of the casing 7 machine, illust-rating the valve mechanism `for controlling the rinsing water spray;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail, `being a vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing the 'devices for opening and closing the circuit throu hl the electric motor which drives the pa dle wheels, and

Fig.' i is an enlarged detail, being a partial horizontal section Yon line 6 6 of Fig. 3.A-

Referring to the drawings,

7 indicates the shell or casing of the machine, whichis of suitable shape and d'imensions to enclose and support the various ported on legs 8. Said casing is best made parts of the apparatus, and is preferably supv of sheet metal, and the main body .thereoflv is rectangular in form, as shown/in Figs. 1 and 3. It is provided at its opposite ends jvith laterally extending aprons 9-10, and

with hoods 11-12 which extend over the aprons 9-10. respectively, andare hinged at 13-'-l4 to the upper part of the casing so tha-t they may be swung up out of the way, as illustrated in, dotted lines at the left in serves as a-Water receptacle, and is .provided with a transverse partition 15 which divides the interior thereof intowashing and rinsing compartments 16-17, respectively. Sui-table pipe connections., which need not be specifically described, are provided for supy plying the tanks 16--17 with Waterl and for regulating'- the level of t-he Water therein.

The ends of the easing above the apronsY 9-10 are open to permit of the passage longitudinally through the tank of wheeled basket'18,'shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and in 'fulllineslin Figl. These baskets are adapted to hold the dishes or other articles to be washed, and are adapted to run on tracks 19-20 which extend longitudinally through the casingand over the aprons 9-10, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Said tracks, which are preferably made of angle iron, are inclined downward from the 1nlet end A to the outlet end B ofthe mai chine, so .that the baskets are adapted to move by gravity through the machine from the inlet end-.tgAthe outlet end thereof. At the Alatter'endian up-turned stop 21 is prof vided to prevent the baskets from running olif the track at that end, as shown in Fig. 2. The baskets 18 are provided at their ends with inclined guides 22, as best shown in lFig. 2, the guidessof adjoining baskets bein adapted to register, so that they serve to ho d the baskets apart and also co-operate with the sliding gate hereinafter described, to roperly posit-ion the baskets in the was ing compartment.

23 indicates avertically-sliding gate which is mounted in the casing in line with the partition 15, with which it is adapted to cooperate to separate the washing com artment from the rinsing compartment a ove the level of the water in the tanks 16-17. Said gate is 'substantially counterbalanced by a counterbalance weight 24, which, in

' the construction shown, is connected to the vas.

gate above the casing by a flexible connection 25 which runs over pulleys 26-27, as best shown in Fig. 3. 'The gate 23 is raised and lowered by means of a controlling device which also controls the operation of various other parts of the machine, as will be hereinafter described. ln the construction illustrated this controllingl device is in the form of a lever 28 of the bell-crank type, the fulcrum 29 of which is adjacent to the inlet end of the machine, said, lever having an upwardly extending arm 30 which is provided with a handle 31 placed in position for convenient operation by the attendant who introduces the baskets into the machine. The other principal arm 32 of said lever is connected by a. link. 33 with a longitudinally movable rod 34 which is mounted at one side pf vthe casing in suitable brackets 35-36 and is connected by a horizontal arm 37 with the upper portion of the gate 23, asY shown in Fig. 3. Thus, by 'rocking the lever 28, the gate 23` may be raised and lowered.' To permit of the passage of the lower edge of said gate into contact with the partition 15, the tracks 19-20 are made in sections which are separated slightly at the center of the machine, as best shown in Fig. 2, so that when said gate is lowered it may pass between the adjoining ends of the track sections.

For the purpose of throwing the wash ing and rinsing water in the tanks 16-'17 violently into contact with the articles to be washed, ll provide .paddle 'wheels 38-39 Vwhich are mounted in the tanks itl-17, re-

spectively, and extend longitudinally thereof in such position that their blades dip into the water in said tanks. Said paddle wheels are mounted on a lngitudinally entending shaft 4:0 suitably journaled in the ends of the casing and connected by a flexible clutch or coupling l1 with the armature 'shaft l2 of an electric motor 43, which, in

theconstruction shown, is mounted @n pasaste suitable support tl at onel end of the machine. lPVhen the motor is in operation the shaft et() will be rotated, thereby rotating the paddle wheels and throwing the water in the washing and rinsing tanks upward, and

Asince the paddle Wheel shaft is connected directly to the armature Shaft of the motor,

said paddle wheels will be rotated at a high rate of speed, thereby causing a very pronounced and forcible distribution of the water `throughout the Washing and `rinsing compartments. This construction makes it practicable to employ much smaller paddle wheels than it has heretofore been expedient to' use. As best shown in Fig. 3, the paddle wheels are located substantially centrally under the path of the baskets 18 instead of at one side thereof, as has heretofore been-the practice, and consequently the machine may be made muchnarrower, and occupies considerably less space. lin order to properly direct the water thrown by the paddle wheels up against the contents of the baskets, vertically extending deflectors 45 are provided, in the form of plates which may 4paddle wheel 39, ll also provide for rinsing them a second time b-y spraying them with fresh hot water while they are passing out of thesrinsing compartment. For this purpose l provide a spraying pipe 46, which` in the construction shown, .extends trans? versely` ofthe machine below the "path of the baskets and adjacent to the outlet end of the rinsing compartment. This spray- 'ing pipe may, however, be 'placed above the baskets if desired. Said pipe is sup'- plied with hot water under pressure and it is perforated in such manner that the water will be discharged upon the contents of the basket in the rinsing compartment as it moves over said pipe. nected with a suitable source of suppl)7 of hot water, indicated by a pipe 47 in Fig. l, the supply of water admitted to the pipe 46 being controlled 'by a valve ,48 having a projecting plunger stem 49. This valve` in the form illustrated, is so` constructed that by pressing in the stem a9, the valve will be Said pipe is conopened and water admitted to the pipe d6.

' arm- 52 which is connected by a link 53 with valve shown is automatically opened to discharge rinsing water upon the contents of each basket as it moves out of the rinsing compartment will presently be described.

50 indicates a rock-shaft which extends transversely of the machine below the tracks 19-20 and adjacent to the outlet end of the rinsing compartment, as shown-in Fig. 2. Said shaft carries one or more stops 51 which are adapted to project up into the path of the baskets,vto position them in -the rinsing compartment, or to be folded down by the rocking of the shaft 50, out

of the way of the baskets to permit them to pass out of said compartment. Said rock-shaft is provided. at one end with an the arm 3() of the lever 28, the arrangement y., being such that when said lever is operated 51 out of operative position.

to raise the'gate 23, it also rocks the shaft 50 in such direction as to move the stop Then said lever is moved in the reverse direction, the gate 23 is moved down into boperative position, and the stop 51 is restored to the position shown in Fig. 2. At its otherendthe rock-shaft 50 carries another arm 54 which is connected by a link 55' with alever 56, as best shown in Fig. 4. 'Said lever is mounted upon a pivot 57, and is provided with an arm 58?which is 'adapted to bear upon 'the plunger stem 49. It will be evident from a comparison of Figs'. 1, 2 and 4 that when the lever 28 is moved in a clockwise direction, the shaft 50 will be rocked to move thestop 51 in a counterclockwise direction out of operative position. This movement of the rock-shaft 50 will rock the lever. 54 Iin a clockwise direc-tion as seen intthe illustration of Fig. 4; and

. consequently thelever 56 will'be actuated to press the plunger stern 49 in, or to the lett, thereby opening the valve 48 and discharging a spray of water from the pipe 46 upon the contents of the basket in the rinsing compartment. As soon as the stop 51 is movedv ont of operative position as l, described, the basketv in the rinsing comj the motor 43. For this purpose saidV 'lever partment will move by gravity out over the apron 10, passing over the pipe 46, sothat its contents will beV thoroughly sprayed by the water discharged from saidpipe. This water is maintained ata high temperature so that it e-vaporates quickly, and consequently the rinsedarticles dry almost instantly. i

In order to 'stop the paddle wheels whilelthis last rinsing isbeing eected, and also while a fresh basket vis) being introduced at the inlet end of the machine and the basket then in the washing compartment' ismovingv into the rinsingcompartment, the lever 28 is also arranged `to automatically start and stop is provided 'with an arm 59 from which portion 61 and laterally projecting lugs 62-63, as shown'in Figfl. Saidrod eX- tends through a guide bracket 64 and adjacent to a switch member 65 which controlsthe operation of the motor. It will be evident that when the rod moves longitudinally, the passage of the oset portion 61 through the guide-bracket 64 swings said The lugs 62-63 together rod laterally. form a recess 66 which is adapted to rec'eiye a portion, such as the handle, of the switch'member 65 when the rod 60 is moved laterally at the proper time. The arrangement is such that when the 4gate 23 is closed and the stop 51 is' in operative position, the switch member will be closed and the motor 43 in operation. At this time the lugs 62-63 will be in operative enga-gement .with the'switch member65, and consequently when thelever 28 .is operated to open the switch 23, the same operation will move the rod 60 downward, thereby opening the switch -and stopping the motor,

which also stops the paddle wheels 38--39. This occurs during the first part of the depends a swinging rod 6() havingan offset movement of the rodl 60. As such downv ward movement continues the offset portion will swing the rod 60 laterally so as to disengage it from the switch member 65,y and thereby permit said rod to continue its downward movement without further movement of said switch member. When the lever 28 is moved in the reverse direction, the rod 60 will not operatively engage and actuate the switch until its movement has been almost completed, and consequently lthe motor will not start until the gate 23 the machine, a basket ycon- .no

being sprayed from the pipe 46 into therinsing compartment. As soonl as ,the first basket has moved down into the washing compartment, the lever 28 is operated to lower-'the' gate '2.3, and the operation of said leverstartsthe motor, and. rocks theshaft v50 to turn the stop 51 into operative position and shut thepvalve 48l to cut 0E' the rinsing spray. The starting of the motor rotates the paddle wheels, and'consequently throws Washing and 'rinsing water ses to pass down into engagement with the par-V tition l5. The rinsing of the dishes byV means of the paddle wheel, and the subse quent rinsing by the spray mechanism, have already been described. 'lhe hingin'g of the hoods which extend over the aprons 9 1() permitting it to move through said casing.

-facilitates access to the interior of the casing. h

So far as l amfaware l am the Erst in the art to provide a washing machine in which the yseveral operations hereinbefore described are controlled automatically. lin other respects also, as defined by the generic claims hereinafter made, my invention is not restricted to the specic construction shown and described, but includesy such changes or Vinodiiications as would be apparent to those skilled in the art.

.What l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by liet-ters Patent, is

1. A washing machine comprising a casing, a tanktherein, an inclined support extending over said tank for supporting a carrier containing the articles to be washed `and by gravitypower operated means in said tank for throwing water'against such articles, means below the path oit the articles` and discharging in an upward direction for spraying water thereupon while they' are moving out of said casing, and means for controllin the passage of the articles throu ht e casing.

' 2. washing machine comprisin a casing, means for supporting the artic es to be washedy in their passage through said casing, power operated means in said casing for throwing water against such articles.J means for `spraying water upon such articles, a controlling member, and means controlled alternately by the actuation of said controlling Vmember for actuating said spraying means and said power operated means.'

1 3. A washing lmachinecomprising a casing, means for supporting the articles to be washed in their passage through said casing,

powerV operated means in said casing for throwing water against such articles, means for starting and stopping said power-operated means, means for spraying water upon such 'articlesa controlling device, and means controlled hy the actuation of said controlling device for starting said spraying Y Maase-e means when said power operated means -is stopped, and for stopping said spraying means when said power operated means is started. A

d. A washing machine comprising a cass ing, means for supporting ,the articles to be washed in their passage through said casing,

means and said spraying means and operating to start said spraying means when said power operated means is stopped, and to stop said spraying means when said power operated means is started.

5. A washing machine comprisinga casing, means for supporting the articles to be washed in their passage through said casingI by gravity, means for spraying water upon such articles, a controlling device, and devices actuated .hy the operationthereof iEor controlling the passage of 'such articles through said casing, and tor starting and stopping the operation of said spraying means. v Y

' t. A washing machine comprisin a casing, means ier supporting the artic es to be washed in their passage throughfaid casing, power operated means tor throwing water vagainst such articles, Vmeans for spraying waterupon such articles, a controlling device, and devices actuated bythe operation thereof for controlling the passage of such articles through said casing, and for starting and stopping the operation of s aid spraying and said power operated means alternately.

7.' A washing machine comprising a casing, means for supporting the'articles to be 'washed in their passage through said casing, power operated means tor throwing water against such articles, means for spraying water upon such articles, a lever, means actuated by said lever iter/'controllingthe passage oil such articles through said casing, andmeans actuated by said lever for controlling the operation oit said spraying'and 1 said ower operated means.

.8. washing machine comprising a` casics lll)

ing, inclined means for 'supporting therein a wheeled carrier for the articles to be washed and adapted to permit said carrier `to vnieve through the casing by gravity, means for spraying water upon sucharticles, means for arresting the progress-oil the carrier, and means for controlling the operation oil said arresting means. i

Y 9. A washing machine comprising a casing, inclined means Aitor supporting therein a wheeled carrier for the articles tobe washed ire and adapted to permit said carrier tomove through the casing by gravity, means tor spraying water upon each articles, means for l ing water upon such articles, a controlling ,said power member, and devices actuated by the operation thereof for starting and stopping said power operated means and said spraying means alternately.

11. A washing machine comprising a casing, inclined means for supporting therein a wheeled carrier for the articles to be washed and adapted to permit said carrier to move through rthe casing by gravity, means for spraying water-upon such articles, means lfor arresting the progress of the articles, and 'coactin devices for controlling the operation o said arresting means and said spraying means@ Y y 12. A washing machine comprising a casing, inclined means for supporting therein a wheeled carrier for `the articles to be washed and adapted to permit said carrier to move through the casing by gravity, power operated means for throwing water against such articles, means for spraying water upon such articles, and coacting devices for controlling the passage of the arti'- cles through said casing, and the operation' 'of said spraying means and saidpower opy' erated means. y

13. A washing machineV comprising a casing, inclined means for vsupporting therein a wheeled carrier for the articles to be washed, power operated means in said'casing for .throwing water against such arti-V cles, means vfor sprayingv water upon su'ch articles, and -coacting 4devices .for stoppin operated means and starting sai spraying means.

14:. A washing machine comprising a casing, means for supporting therein the articles to be washed arranged to permit them to move therethrough by'gravity, power op'- eratedI means in said casing for throwing water vagainst such articles means for spraying water upon such' artic es, means for arresting the progress of such articles through said' casing, a controllingimembe'r, and devices actuated by the operation thereof for starting and stopping lsaid power operated means and said spraying means alternately.

f 1-5. A washing machinel comprising a cas.

ing adapted to receive articles to be washed and having an opening for the passage of such'articles, a ate movable into land cut of operative position with respect to. said opening, means for spraying water varon ing adapted to receive articles to be washer; f

such articles, a lever, and means operated by said lever for moving said gate into er` out of operative position and'for stopping and starting said spraying means.

16. A washing machine comprising a casing adapted to receive articles to be washed and having an opening for the passa e of sucharticles, a gate movable into an out of operative position with respect to said opening, lpower operated means for directingwater against the articlesto be washed, means for spraying' water upon such articles, a lever, and devices operated by said lever for moving said gate into or out of,A f

operative position, and for starting and stoppingsaid .power/operated means and said spraying means alternately.

. 17 A washing machine comprising a casl ing adapted to receive articles to be washed and having an opening for the passa e of such articles, a gate movable into an outof operative position with. respect to` said opening, power operated means for direct'- ing water against the articles Ito be washed,

means for spraying water upon such 'articles, a lever and devices operated by said lever for moving said gate into or out of operative position and for starting or stopping said power operated means and simul taneously stopping or starting said spraying means, a

18. A washing machine comprising a casand having -an opening for the passage such articles, a v,gate movable into and out of operative position with respect to said opening, an inclined track for supporting a wheeled carrier for the articles to be washed and permitting them to move-through said casing by gravity, means for spra ing water vupon such articles, a lever, and evices operated by said lever for moving said gate into or. out of operative position and forv starting and stopping the operation of said spraying means. i 19. A washing machine comprising a casing adapted. to receive articles to be washed andf'having an opening for the passa e' of such articles, a gate movable Vinto an ont of operative position with respect to said opening, power operated means for direct.vv

ingwater against the articles to be washed, means for spraying water upon such articles, means adapted to be operated to move said gate into or out lof operativepos'ition and to start said power operated means and Sto said spraying means when said gate is close and to stop' said power operated meansfand start said spraying means when said gate is. opened.

20. A washing ing having a cleansing compartment, means machine comprising a casextending through said'compartment adaptl ed to support the articles to-be Washed in their passage therethrough, power operated means ,in said compartment for throwing water against the articles to be washed, means in said `compartment for spraying water upon such articles and devices -for `alternately operating said water throwing means and said spraying means.

21. A washing machine comprising a casing having washing and rinsing compartments, means extending through said com-v partments adapted to support the articles to be washed in their passage therethrough, power operated means in said compartments for vthrowing water against the articles to be therethrough hy grav1ty a transverse gate` movable into and out oi position to separate said compartments, power operated means in saidy compartments for throwing water les ' `pa'rtments and adapte against the articles to he washed, means for spraying water upon such articles, means for moving said gat/e into or out ot operative position and devices for controlling the operation of said power operated means 'and said spraying means. l

2 3. A washing machine comprising a casinghaving washing and rinsing compartments, means extendin through said comto support the articles to be' washed in their passage therethrough, paddle wheels in said cnuipartments for throwing water against thev articles to he washed, vmeans in said rinsing compartment for sprayingv water upon the articles in said compartment after theyfliave been rinsed by the operation of the paddle Wheel therein and devices for alternately operating said rinsing paddle wheel and said spraying means. f

2li. A washing machine comprising an elongated casing having a washing compartment, a tank extending longitudinally of said casing and adapted to contain wash longitudinally through said casing above said tank 'for sup-Y water, means extending porting articles to be washed in their passage through said compartment, a 'paddle wheel in said tank under said supporting means having its axis disposed longitudinally of the path of said articles, and means for rotating said paddle wheel. l

25. A washing machine comprising an elongated casing having a washing com-Y incassa 'partment, a tank extending longitudinally ot said casing and adapted to contain wash water, means extending longitudinally through said casing above said tank for supporting articles to be washed in their passage through said compartment, a paddle wheel in said tank under said supporting means having its axis disposed longitudinally of the path of said articles, means lor rotating said paddle wheel, and a longitudinally-extending deector in said tank beside said paddle wheel for directing upward the Water thrown thereby. i

26. A washing machine comprising a tank adapted to contain water, a paddle wheel operating to throw water tromV said tank against the articles to be washed, means extendin over said tank and beyond the ends thereo tor supporting such articles, a casing extending over said `tank and having openings at its ends, and a hood hinged to an upper end portion of said casing and extending vlongitudinally outward over said supporting means.

v27. A washing machine comprising a tank adapted to contain water, a paddle wheel operating to throw water from said tank against the articles to be washed, means-extending over said tank and beyond the ends thereoi2 for supporting' such articles, an apron projecting beyond one end oiE said tank under-said supporting means, a casing enclosing said tank and having openings at itsL ends, and a hood hinged to an upper end portion oi saidrcasing and extending longitudinally outward over said apron.

`28. A washing machine comprising a casing, means for supporting the articles to be washed in their passage through said casing,J means in said casing for throwing water against such articles, a motor :tor operating said water throwing means, a switch controlling the operation of said motor, a lever, a swinging rod connected with said lever and mpvable into and out 'oi engagement with said switch, means operated by the actuation ol said ler-1r in one direction or thef other *for moving -aid rod into or out of operative engagement with said switch, and v means operated by said lever for controlling the movement of the articles to be washed.. 29.- A washing machine comprising an elongated casing, means extending longitudinally of the casing for supporting the articles to be washed in their passage'therethrough, a rotary shaft mounted in said casing under and extending along the ath ot said articles, a paddle wheel carried` y said shaft and adapted to throw Water upward upon the articles to be washed, a motor havi elongated casing, means extending longitudinally of said casing for supporting the articles to be washed in their passage therethrough, a rotary shaft mounted in said cas- 5 ing under and extendin along the path of .said articles, a paddle w eel carried by said shaft and adapted to throw water upward upon the-articles to be washed, a longitudinally extending deector'mounted at one' side of said paddle wheel and extending upward above the same, a motor having its shaft connected directly to said irst-men.

tioned shaft, whereby said shafts will rotate at the same speed, and means for starting and stopping said motor.

GEORGE S. BLAKESLEE.' 

